The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC), also known as Obamacare, is a United States federal statute passed in March of 2010. The Act creates a nationwide insurance system and provides federal... more +

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC), also known as Obamacare, is a United States federal statute passed in March of 2010. The Act creates a nationwide insurance system and provides federal subsidies to reduce the number of uninsured citizens. less -

We are now more than two weeks into the Affordable Care Act (ACA’s) second open enrollment period, and 765,000 individuals have obtained coverage through HealthCare.gov. On Capitol Hill, House lawmakers filed a lawsuit...more

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY -
This Week’s Hearings:
- Wednesday, January 15: The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs will hold a hearing titled “Vendors in the OR- VA’s Failed Oversight of Surgical Implants.” The House...more

In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled.
Excerpt from...more

In This Issue:
- Top News
..Judge Orders $237.4 Million Penalty Against Tuomey for Stark Law and False Claims Act Violations
..Glitches and Demand Lead to Marketplace Frustration
..HHS Delays Small...more

In This Issue:
Leading the News; Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups...more

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY -
CR Wrangling -
The House approved H. J. Res. 59 last week, a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through December 15 at sequester funding levels. As expected, the resolution...more

In This Issue:
Leading the News; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearing and Mark-Ups Scheduled.
Excerpt from Leading the News...more

In This Issue:
- Top News
..CMS Finalizes MLR Rule for Plans, Maintaining Application to Part D Sponsors
..Early State Filings Show Premium Reductions under ACA
..HHS Received More Than 830 Letters of...more

In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups...more

In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups...more

In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled....more

In This Issue:
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups...more

While Congress was in recess, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) surprised many when it changed course on Medicare Advantage payment rates – switching from a 2.3 percent reduction to a 3.3 percent increase,...more

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) conditionally approved state partnership marketplaces in Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire and West Virginia; Accountable Care Organizations wrote to the Centers for...more

Last week another marketplace deadline came and went, Illinois became the 21st state approved to operate a health insurance marketplace, and U.S. senators pressed the HHS official responsible for the bulk of exchange...more

On February 8, 2013, 16 months after the statutory deadline, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published in the Federal Register the final regulation implementing the physician payment transparency...more

On December 5, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published final regulations regarding the implementation of the excise tax applicable to the sale of certain medical devices, enacted by the Patient Protection and...more